Virginia high school football coach who lost on November 20th and later revealed to be wanted on charges involving child sexual abuse material, was last seen walking in the woods with a gun, the coach’s family says.
A statement from a law firm representing Travis Turner’s family, released on Friday, said: “The last known contact the family had with Travis occurred on or around Thursday, November 20, after he left his residence to walk in the woods with a firearm. He is believed to have entered a heavily wooded, mountainous area.”
At that time, said the statement of the lawyer Adrian Collins, no warrant had been issued for Turner’s arrest.
Virginia State Police – PHOTO: Travis Turner is pictured in an undated photo released by the Virginia State Police.
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When Turner did not return home that evening, his wife notified law enforcement, the attorney’s statement said.
“It was advised that a missing person report could not be taken until at least 24 hours had passed,” said the lawyer’s statement. “The next day, she filed a missing person’s report with the Virginia State Police. The family has cooperated fully with law enforcement in their ongoing efforts to locate Travis.”
Agents with the state Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Wytheville Field Office were on their way to Turner’s home on Nov. 20 as part of an investigation, when they were informed he was no longer there, police said.
State police later obtained a total of 10 warrants for Turner, 46, of Appalachia, Virginia, including five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor, authorities said.
Virginia State Police – PHOTO: Travis Turner is pictured in an undated photo released by the Virginia State Police.
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Turner is a physical education teacher and head football coach at Union High School, in the Wise County public school district, according to the school’s website. Amidst his absence, the football team advanced to the Virginia regional finals, during a 12-0 season and remains undefeated.
Virginia State Police said earlier this week that they were actively searching for Turner.
“Since his fatigue, VSP has utilized a number of assets, including search and rescue teams, drones and k9s, to assist in the search,” state police said in a statement. “VSP’s top priority is to find Turner safely; he is now considered a fugitive.”
The statement from the attorney for the Turner family said that family members and friends were also searching the woods.
“These efforts have been limited by weather conditions and out of respect for ongoing official operations,” said the statement. “It is the family’s prayer that Travis will be safe and have the opportunity to defend himself in a court of law.”